By Jessica Alaimo, Executive Director, Murray Grove & Parker Cohen, Murray Grove Board Secretary

Above: Shirl Giles (seated), who has attended every Murray Grove Homecoming event since the 1970s, receives the inaugural Murray Grove Legacy Award.

On Saturday, October 5, Murray Grove hosted its annual Homecoming celebration. Homecoming 2024: Earth Justice! It was a wonderful and successful event, during which community members and supporters gathered outdoors for moving speeches, great music, and standup comedy. 

Murray Grove, the birthplace of Universalism in the U.S., is known for being a historic and sacred location in Unitarian Universalist history. Now a retreat center and event venue, MG welcomes all to share in the beautiful and calming scenery offered here. 

Homecoming’s keynote speaker was the comedian, Julia Scotti. Known for appearing on America’s Got Talent and Showtime’s Funny Women of a Certain Age, Scotti explained her experience as a transgender woman and how much Murray Grove has meant to her. Later, the Marc Ribler Band impressed the crowd with some awesome tunes, and Nadine Kadell Sapirman of Citizens’ Climate Lobby spoke about how environmental justice, at its core, is about racial justice, LGBTQ+ justice, and more. 

The day’s highlight was the inaugural Murray Grove Legacy Award, presented to longtime supporter Shirl Giles. Giles has attended every Murray Grove Homecoming event since the 1970s and is a testament to the wonderful and loving Murray Grove community.  

At Murray Grove, our mission is centered on UU values like Universal Love and Inclusivity. We are excited to welcome future events like Coming of Age, Women’s Weekend, and even a vegan food festival. Although we are known as a retreat center, we are also much more. We welcome you to see for yourselves anytime. We can’t wait to meet you.